Push latch



M. BOBRICK March 22, 1960 PUSH LATCH Filed Nov. 18, 1957 l' INVENToR.

@Trap/vif@ United States Patent O PUSH LATCH Mitchell Bobrick, Pacific Palisades, Calif., asslgnor to Marvin Electric Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 18, 1957, Serial No. 697,016 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-99) My invention relates to a push latch, and more spe cically to a latch to hold shut the bezel on a light xture that is placed in a room. Such lighting iixtures, whether recessed or otherwise, are often placed in extremely high ceilings where it is undesirable to use ladders and the like to change light bulbs. Bulb changers are used which consist of a long pole with attachments on the end for grabbing and unscrewing the electric light bulb and replacing the same. These bulb changers are rather un- Wielding and it is diflicult to release the normally small triggers and the like used to release the latches holding the bezels closed.

The present invention has been made so as to permit the operator using a bulb changer to merely press upon the bezel itself which actuates the push latch and permits the bezel to fall open; and in closing the bezel may merely be pushed against the fixture itself thus closing and locking it in position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent 'om the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a partial section.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial section, the same as Figure 2 showing the latch in the released position.

A push latch constructed in accordance with my invention is adapted to be attached to a removable outer trim 1, which is connected to the light fixture, or the removable outer trim may be the bottom of the light xture itself. The light bezel is represented at 2 and it pivots at 3 on the removable outer trim 1 so that the bezel 2 can drop to a vertical position. Pivotally attached at 4 to the removable outer trim 1 is a rocker 5 which has a downwardly extending arm 6 with a hook 7 thereon. Extending in one direction away from the pivot point 4 is an anchor 8 to which the spring 9 is attached. The spring 9 is fastened to an anchor 10 on the removable Patented Mar. 22, 1950 ice outer trim 1. The bezel 2 is of a shape that it pivots in the removable outer trim 1 and has an extension 11 up into the removable outer trim 1. Upon the extension 11 is an inwardly extending flange 12. The ange 12 has a passage 13 through which the hook 7 can pass. Also a boss 14 is provided upon the lever 5 which engages the top surface of the flange 12. In closing, the bezel 2 is merely pushed up and the side 15 of the passage 13 strikes the arcuate surface 16 of the hook 7 forcing it to centralize in the hole 13 until the hook 7 has passed through the ange 12. At this point the surface 17 latches under the flange 12 and holds the bezel closed. When the bezel 2 is closed and locked (Figure 2), the spring 9 is undershot from the pivot 4 causing the hook 7 to be held tightly in position against the ange 12. When it is desired to open the bezel 2, pressure on the bezel 2 will cause the ange 12 to force the boss 14 upwardly causing the rocker 5 to pivot into at least a dead center position as shown in Figure 4. Of course, if too much pressure is applied to the bezel 2 the rocker 5 will swing past dead center and will be stopped by the boss 18 which also acts as a stop to locking position of the rocker 5.

In either the dead center or overshot position the bezel 2 can drop as the hook 7 does not engage the ange 12. As the bezel 2 drops, the edge 19 of the ange 12 strikes the stopping surface 20 on the arm 6, forcing the rocker 5 back to its undershot position where the above described cycle can be repeated. The hook 7 passes through the hole 13 before the ange 12 strikes .the surface 20, thus permitting the bezel to drop clear and open from the I claim:

In a device of the class described, a light fixture trim member, a bezel hinged at one side of said trim member and adapted to close said trim member, a rocker pvotally attached to said trim member having a hook extending therefrom, a ange on said bezel having a hole adapted to pass said hook therethrough and to engage therewith to hold said bezel closed, spring means to maintain said hook and said ange in engagement, a boss on said rocker adapted to engage said ange to rotate said rocker when said ange is pressed upwardly to release said hook from said ange, said spring means connected to said rocker so that when said rocker is rotated by pressure on said boss said rocker rotates at least to a dead center position, and a sloping surface on said rocker adapted to be struck by said ange as said bezel opens to return said rocker to locking position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

